The standing tall with his tail straight up is very dominant. While he may not be the aggressor he very likely could be the reason a fight starts. I have a dog who also does this at the dog park. He is a little dog so I've been very involved in training him to have better doggy manners. While he's never been aggressive to another dog, I know that his behavior would be the cause of the fight. Unfortunately he will mostly likely end up on the losing end since he's only 18 lbs. I usually keep him leashed until I see his tail in a more relaxed position and he's calmed down from the excitement. After 10-20 mins I usually can let me off. If I see his behavior changing at all I leash him again and keep going. Make sure you catch him before it turns into anything, that way he's always set up for success. Also, A good walk before the doggy park is a great idea. It gets some initial energy out, establishes you as leader and doesn't unleash his built up energy on other dogs. It is also mentally stimulating. Just my opinion. I hope you find something that works for you!
|